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Labor employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor said the coalition government had let the industry die when it came to office in 2013.

"It speaks for the lack of support that the Liberal party and Malcolm Turnbull have for manufacturing jobs," he told reporters in Adelaide.

"Jobs and growth" has been the coalition's mantra during the election campaign and is a key issue in marginal seats.

Arrium was placed in administration in April after negotiations with its lenders failed.

Administrators from KordaMentha say the restructuring and sale of the group should be finalised by the end of the year and they expect the company to attract genuine interest from potential suitors.

Mr Turnbull told reporters in Sydney he had been through Arrium's books with the administrator.

But he rejected Labor's approach.

"This is an unbusinesslike and highly political announcement from Mr Shorten," Mr Turnbull said.

The prime minister said the government had already acted on the dumping of cheap foreign steel into the Australian market and brought forward a rail line project that would increase demand for Arrium's steel.

But he would have more to say on the company in the future.

The government of SA Premier Jay Weatherill has put 11 items to both major parties including support for Arrium, extra spending on public transport, road and irrigation funding and a boost to health.

"We've tried to broker a bipartisan agreement on steel - Bill stepped up to the plate and we do invite the PM to join him," the Labor premier said.

Labor and the coalition fear the jobs issue will bolster the chances of the Nick Xenophon Team picking up SA lower house seats - making the prospect of a hung parliament more likely.

Warning of the instability of another Labor minority government, Mr Turnbull said voters needed to treat their ballot "as though that is the one vote that decides the election".